Synchronizing transmission mechanism



' Sept. 27; 1938. P. L. TENNEY 2,131,199

' SYNCHRONIZING TRANSMISSION HECHANISI Filed July 17, 1929 2 Sheet sSheet 1 Elma/Mien S n zgz i 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :P. 1.. TENN-EX FildJuly 17, 1929 Y SYNCHRONIZING"TRANSMISION MECHANISM al hvmmw I. The ring 29 is internally provided with clutch 1 Tl'ris invention relates change Patented Sep 7, 1 938 1 1 tan-amiss... mm to Gen- I erai Motors Corporation, Detroit, men; aor- Application sqymrmJm-i s. staple transmission mechanism}; is designed for nsefonvehicle's. g object of the invention is to provide for I speed ratio changes noiselessly.-

I "a further obiectthe invention aims to ac- 4; mpliah its major object with a-construction which is simple; to'assembie and inexpensive to'manufacture.

Other objects and will beunderi ,jstood? from the following; specification the -Fjgurezis aecambanyme 1 35: I

I wanna drawingsi Figure I 'is-a longitudinal vertical ti'on throughr the'ftrammission mechanism;

' F giir'e'ii is I device showing one relative position of parts.

Figured is a similar viewshowimthem in another relative positions I I Figure 51: longitudinal 7 section one element b'fth'8118315810111' 5 f Figure fi israsectionpn line O-lof Figured; FigureT is 'a detail-"in 'perspective. Reremnsb'y reference characters to'the drawing'sfnume'rall represents'the' housing for enjclos'ing the Epower transmissiOn mechanism.

numeral l represent a driving' shaft rotatably supported ind-frontiwall I 'of th'e'easing by antlfriction bearings l-i": f This shaft 1 has a gear I] in con'stantmeshwith gear ilof countershaftiil, the latter rotatably mounted on shaft ll; supported'inthe' frqntwall land n the rear Wall 2 i The countershaft has rigid therewith a Second speed .driving'gear 23; a'low 'speed driving gear gll and a gear 21-" to constantly? drive a reverse idler. A

ring a having an'*externalcylindrical race" I and'a conical face" extending'from 'face II is carried rigidly by the extremeinner end or shaft 1 "snven spnne' shaft am rotatably supported by bearingsjiiin the rear wall 2iand its front endjis' reduced as 'at' lland rotatabl'y' supported 1 in-the recessed end' oi' 'sh'aftw'l.-- Suitable fastening means and 48 on thesplined shaft 'II retain in 1 position onsald shaft a' flanged sleeve 41. The second speed driven gear; 49 v is rotatable on the sleeve: It is retained from axial movement byythe v I in constant. :mesh' with gear on the countershaft. j ,A slidableisear llflon the driven shaft is movable into; mesh with gear ilfl on the countershaft for low speed driv ns,- and -ismovable into jig". ms a) fork I.

a-transverse section on line 2 of 1 ajtop'plan view or aportion' of the mesh withthe usual reverse idler driven by gear 21 for reverse driving. Gear Ii is moved by a I by a rail I, slidable on" a fixed rod II. r ,g F

The second speed driven gear ll is provided with a-rln'g ll having a cylindrical external face II and an external conical friction face .2. This ring'llalso has'intern'al teeth It. This ring 5! with its -'externai surfaces and internal teeth corresponds with the ring II carried by the 'drivingshaft.

fllidabie on but'non-rotatable relative to the driven'splined shaft :81 is a clutch element I I having clutch teeth-t8 and ll, the former to at times mesh with teeth-II and the latter to interchannel of jcollar I receives the semi-circular fork l8 rigid with a: second rail 14 which is slidablej ona second rod II.-- There may be used a detent'li, actuated by a spring '11 operating asainst an abutment I8, the detent ll engaging recesses in the fixed rod, one being shown at 18,

'the'purposebeing to locate the rail in its active and neutral positions. Between the rails *is a 1. fixed rod ll apertured to receive a ball 83 serving asan' interlockinthe well known way. This ball 3 is n'ioved transversely by one or the other of the rails "when moved from neutral position and serves to lock theother rail from movement.

A friction clutch element carrier in theform of a cylindricalbarrel il'has'secured thereto, as by rivets 'l'l extending through. openings II at- 'itsends. friction members 9l.- These friction members have cylindrical surfaces 93 and, conical friction surfaces 85." The linear and radial dimensions of the barrel. are suchthat'when assembledin: position as shown in Figure 1.the

barrel is freely rotatable about the rings 29 and II, the cylindrical surfaces affording free r'otation.

v'll'he three'radial lugs on element II terminate in ends l tapered or inclined tangentially in both tapered. ends are received in openings 91 of the barrel as shown. The openings are elongated and of such width attheir ends as to accommodate the longerdimension of the tapered ends of lugs 61." Between the ends of opening -91 are oppositely disposednotches 89, the walls of "which are tapered or inclined in tangential planes to attimes engagethe' tapered ends of lugs l! in the manner which willbe obvious. Said tapered lock with teeth N; The clutch element OI has a'plurality of radial lugs .ll (three being shown). 7 A" channel-shaped ll rests on and is secured to the extremities of the radial lugs by fastening means li threaded into the said lugs. The

directions as shown in Figure 7. These double moved transversely through a notch III in the fixed member II to engage rail I. When rail is moved longitudinally, rail N is locked by v the interlocking device ll and rail ll may bemoved to make shifts for low speed or reverse in the usual way. L I For shifts into high speed and second speed positions, the shift lever llll is first moved transversely through the notch I" in the fixed member ill. The rail 14 has an upwardly directed arm H I with]. bifurcated end I ll straddling'a rounded portion H5 on lever Ill above its lower end ,I H which engages the rail and below the ful- 'crum H9 carried by the cover-ill. The rail 14 is shaped as shown by the dotted lines ill in Figure 2 to accommodate thetransverse movement of the lower end Il'l when the spherical portion I it engages the projection I I3 and also to permit the necessary longitudinal, movement of said lower end ill with respect to the rail. when the rail 14 is moved longitudinally in a forward direction it tends to effect the engagement of teeth 63 and 35. when moved, the spring detents I03 carry the barrel I! along in an axial direction, so that the friction surfaces 33 and I5 engage. The barrel thus tends to rotate at the speed of part 28 which is rigid with shaft "I, while the clutch element 8| carrying the lugs i1 is boundtorotate with shaft 81. Any relative rotation causes the movement of lugs "with the tapered ends 90 into one or the other of notches ll of the barrel. The rotating shaft 31, assuming it to rotate at a speed above that of shaft I. operates throughthe instrumentality of lugs 1 in notches,

- to turn the barrel and through the frictional engagement of the friction clutches to bring the shaft 1 into synchronization with shaft 31. Fur-- thermore, the forwardpressure being exerted on to slide along the wall of notch 98 into the medial line of slot 91 whereupon the lug l'l moves to the end of slot 91 and the teeth ll and I3 engage.

The act of synchronization occurs very rapidly and without noise. Precisely the same operation occurs when shifting into second speed.- In this case the teeth 65 engage teeth ll after synchronization is effected-through the'friction clutch and the'relative movement of parts 81 and II.

In making the shift into secondspeed and highspeed' it will be observed 'that a shorter move- "ment of the shift rail 14 is required thanis required in shifting gear 5| for low and reverse speeds. It will also be noted that a greater resistance must be overcome owing to the presence of the spring detents in! when making the shiftv into second speed or into high speed. To overcome this greater resistance with no greater effort on the part of the operator, the lever arm for shifting rail 14 is made shorter. By this means it will be seen that'the operator operates with'a greater mechanical advantage when shifting through a smaller distance and when acting against a greater force and with a lesser'mechanical advantage in that. instance -which requires a greater movement and-which is accompanied by lesser resistance. Furthermore, it is necessary to apply greater-force to press the friction surfaces together inorder to vinsure synchronization in the short time available than is necessary to intermesh the gears. It should be explained that the'purposeof the spring detents is not primarily to effect synchronization. These springdetents offer only slight resistance to the' movement'of the lever but enough resistance to;

, insure the engagement of the friction clutches before the part 61 could by any Possibility move into the end portion'of slotgfl, when the friction face is engaged, should there be any relative rotation between shaft I and shaft I! a relative rotatlon' is at once set up between parts 61 and ll so that the angular faces SI engage the angular faces of'the notches of theslot. Once these angular faces are engaged the continued pressure on the part of the lever hastens synchroniza-' tion and it is practically impossible for the operator to move the lugs l1 into thelend portions of the slot andengage the jaw clutch teeth until I substantial synchronization is 'eifected- By this very simple construction rapid synchronization is effected and clashing of gears absolutelyprevented. Even without thespring detents I",

if the external cylindrical bearing surfaces 3| and 80 are nicely fltted within the internal bearing surfaces 93, .the circumferential drag on the friction clutch barrel .5 due to diflerential rotation between the shaft-" and clutch member 29 or 59, is sumcient to position the lugs {I in the notches. a -Iclalm:'

1. In a transmission mechanism, axially aligned driving members each having a frictionalclutch" element and a positive clutch element, acoaxial driven member, a'splinedaxially slidable positive clutch element on'sa'id drivenv member between said driving members, a carrier surrounding said slidable positive clutch element having a plurality of frictional elements, one associated with each of the aforesaid friction elements, said carrier having slots with. transversely positioned symmetrically tapered notches, said axially slidable clutch element having symmetrically tapered lugs, constituting means for driving said-carrier, positioned in said slots and engageable with said notches. 2. In a change speed trionmechanism for vehicles, a driven shaft, a coaxial driving member, said driving member having a friction face and a jaw clutch element, a'jaw clutch element slidably but non-rotatably' mounted on said cooperating positive .clutch elements, one of which isslidable to engage'the other, a frictionclutch I -member associated with one of said'positive clutch elements, a second cooperating friction" clutch member, resilient :means through'the instrumentality of which said cooperating friction clutch members are engaged upon an initial movement of said slidable clutch element, connecting means between said slidable clutch ele-- -ment and said second friction clutch membensaid surfaces, said double ended friction clutch connecting means having cooperating *detent member having a constant bearing on said cylinparts and. being-constructed to provide relative drical surfaces but having suflicient axial move- .axialiniovement'and also limited relative ment to engage or disengage either one of the a relative axial movement-,fllerebetween.

a second, Jaw. "clutch element slidable 'to, qengm;

irst. a

I second friction clutch eiementZZaisociated with the second jaw clutch'elemrit; mm able connecting said second daw clutch 1 elemeatt second friction clutch elementop'erative'to t I means to' resiliently 1resisti relatiye;axial movement of the secondiaw element and the second friction clutch' lements-(1mm element; and a conical friction clutch element one to the other, a spline shaft on which-oneofsaid members is free to rotate and to whichit may be clutched, a double ended jaw a ms-m, interlock with either of said axially spao'edjap'v clutch elements, an axially movable -dqiibiiended friction clutch element, having constriction surfaces, centered on and supported movement 'togaline said detent parts in one'posifriction clut'ch pairs, and a driving connection 5 'tionof relative axial adiustment ,betweenf saidvbetween the double ended toothedclutch element slidable clutch element and said second frictional" said double ended friction clutch member clutch-member;

1 adapted-to permitvof alimitedrelative rotation e 4."I'he,invention defined b sclaim 3, saidjcon ands-relative axial movement; cooperating detent 1o necting nieans inciuding parts having" engaging parts on said last namedtoothed clutchelement I I facesaiignlarly related tothe direction of an? and"frictionclutchmember'arranged in alinemovementof said,slidable clutch elementw croi' 'mcnt when the friction membcris at the end of sby rclativeaidal'movement is prevented prior' to its limited rotary movement. I a 1 synchronization. .7 v I c ii, In altransmission mechanismmxia spaced,

an combined jaw and friction clutcht'el'einen' coaxial. members, each comprising a Jaw clutch elutchl'element slidable on said spline shaft and ing friction clutch member having corresponding internal conical friction surfaces and cylindrical PERRYL. TENNEY.

also, in oneposition of relative.jaii l l i.lhovement, by d members, a lost motion driving connecg5 i limited relative rotary movlil'nent 'aiidflcooper'ating, I tween said double ended slidable iaw clutch jdetents' on said second-Jaw clutch element and 'clement and'said double ended friction clutch elesaid second friction clutch element adapted to be, 'nent, including a radial lug on oneand a slot in j, j alincd by said relative rotary'movement. the ether providedwith oppositely inclined de- .-'6; The combination of two coaxial power transtents'arran'ged to be alinedwith the lugs to oppose so rnitting members each comprising a toothed axial movement of the slidable law clutch element .clutch element relatively movable' axially into and in eitherclirection underconditions oi asynchroout of 'intermeshing engagement, with two posinous rotation of either member with respect to tively driven friction clutch members, one being the spline shaft. I fixed axially with the, first of said power trans- 10. The combination defined in claim 9 coma mitting members andthe other connected to'the' prising inaddittion a shift collar slidable on said second power-transmitting member so as who double ended friction clutch element and radicapable of a -limited rotation and an axialmoveally disposed means connecting said shift collar 7 ment with respect theretosand also having 'a to said slidable Jaw clutch element. cylindricalbearing engagement with said first 11. The combination of two coaxial power power transmittingmen'iber. y j i transmitting members, each equipped with a1 fl; Thecombinatio I of-two coaxial power trans- I toothed positive coupling element, one of which is -r mitting members "each comprising az'toothed movable into -and out of engagement with the clutch element relatively movable axially into other; a friction synchronizing member in posiand out of intermeshing engagement, with two -tive torque transmitting connection with each 5 positivelvl'driven"friction'clutch membersj lone power transmitting member, respectively, one of being fixed axially with :the, first of said power ,ssid friction members "being disposed concentri- ;transmittins, membersand the other connected daily with respect to the movable coupling ele- 'to the'sccond of saidpower transmitting members 2 merit and having a lost motion connection with a; sons to be capable offa'limited rotation and the member-"by which it is driven and capable of axial.mo'veme'nt with. respect. thereto, axial movement whereby 'itmay be frictionally cylindrical bearing surfaces on saidlast named 1 engaged with its companion; yieldable means 1 'Igfriction clutchmember and said first named fricconnecting the movable positive coupling element j tion clutch member :andsaid-first named power, with the concentrically disposed axially movable gurtransmitting member andv conical friction surfriction member and means for moving the posix facesmerging-into' said cylindrical bearing sur- 'tive coupling element toward engagement with facesJ; f 1 its companion, therebymoving said movable fric- 'sg 'rl'ie combinatiop oftwo alined power transtion member intolight frictional engagement 7 putting members each provided with-toothed, with its companion; and cooperating detents on v .clutch elements, a third coaxial power trahsmitsaid lost motion connected and axially movable ting member having a splinedportion extending member and movable positive coupling element between said toothed clutch elements, a double adapted to be alined as a result of said light j ended toothed clutch element slidable on said engagement of the friction surfaces of said fricr splined portion and adapted to be intermeshed tion members. with theclutch tecthof either of the aforesaid l2. Ajcombination as defined in claim 11 in 05 two alined power transmittingmembers, friction which the yieldabie means connecting the movclutch members rigid with each of said two alined able coupling element with the concentrically dispower transmitting memberseachcomprising ex-' posed lost motion connected and axially movable 'tern'al conical friction-surfaces merging into cyiinfriction member: consists of radially movable 10 bearing surfaces, at double ended cooperat spring pressed plungers. I 7o CERTIFICATE or oomcnon. 1

Patent No. 2,131,199. September 27, 1 958,

PERRY L. mum. r 1

It is hereby certified thnt error appear; in the printed \epe'ciiication or the above nunneredpatent requiring correotion as follows: Page 5, first column, line 1, clnim 3 after the word and com "member," insert whereby the letter is driven 19 7 the fonner; and that the said Letters Patent v ehonld be reed'with! this correction therein that the some may conform to the record oi the clue in the Pitent Office.

I Signed and sealed this 29th day of November-,1. n. 1958.

Henry Van Arsdele (Seal) 1 e Acting Commissioner or Patente. 

